Sergei Mironov (right) with Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo) (epa)
May 26, 2006 -- The speaker of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament today warned Georgia and Ukraine that they could suffer financially if they withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Sergei Mironov did not specify what benefits Kyiv and Tbilisi might lose if they leave the group of 12 former Soviet republics. Mironov did note, however, that both countries are dependent on Russia for energy supplies.